The Sleeping Heir I Should Have Chosen

Julian’s venomous words were still hanging in the air when Chloe chimed in, her voice dripping with poison disguised as honey.

"Yes, if my sister chooses Lord Evan, she'll be a widow before the wedding gifts are even unwrapped." She gave me a look of fake concern. "And there'll be no one left to even cry for you."

I stared at her, my voice cold and flat. "Who I choose is none of your business."

Anger flashed in Chloe's eyes, but she hid it in an instant. She clutched her chest and began to cough, sagging against Julian like a frail flower.

"Cough, cough... I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you, sister," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I remember that night at the auction... those rival families ganging up on you. I was terrified they'd draw their silver on Julian..."

Her voice grew weaker, as if she might faint at any moment.

The guests around us began to murmur with sympathy.

"That poor child. So fragile, and her own sister treats her so cruelly."

"She seems like such a kind girl."

Julian immediately wrapped a protective arm around her. "Chloe, don't push yourself."

"I'm alright, Julian," Chloe said with a weak smile. "All that matters is my sister's happiness."

The sight of her performance made me want to vomit.

I fell for this same innocent act in my last life. Hook, line, and sinker.

"Enough." I turned to leave, sick of the whole charade. I'd seen this play before.

The moment I turned my back, the mask dropped. A vicious glint flashed in Chloe’s eyes. She deliberately stumbled into a nearby table, "accidentally" knocking over a priceless bottle of bloodwine.

"Ah!"

The crystal decanter shattered on the floor with a sharp crack, spilling crimson liquid everywhere.

"Gods, that's a million-dollar bottle of bloodwine!" someone gasped.

Chloe scrambled to the floor, pretending to clean up the mess. But she "tripped" right at the edge of the puddle, flinging herself backward onto the stone floor.

"Ahhh!" she shrieked, tears streaming down her face. "Help! Maggie pushed me! You all saw it! She pushed me because she's jealous!"

Julian was at her side in a flash. He cradled her as he helped her up, his face a mask of fury. "Maggie! How could you!"

In his arms, while all eyes were on Julian, Chloe shot me a triumphant smirk.

That smirk. The same one she wore as she tore my life apart, piece by piece.

"I didn't touch her," I said, my voice calm.

"Liar!" Julian roared, his silver hair practically crackling with rage. "Everyone saw you!"

"Saw what?" I scoffed. "Did you see me push her? Or did you just see her fall all by herself?"

"You're a monster, Maggie!" Julian's eyes burned with rage. "You're just jealous that she's more beautiful than you! Jealous that I love her, not you!"

Chloe sobbed harder in his arms. "Julian, don't blame her... She's probably just upset. I don't blame her."

That was the last straw. A shockwave of raw power erupted from Julian.

BAM!

I was slammed backward, my back hitting the stone wall hard. The pain was so sharp it almost buckled my knees.

Julian stood there, his eyes blazing. "Touch her again, and I will erase you from this house. Forever."